DIY: A Whale of a Chalkboard

I promised you one more summer project and there she blows. Oddly enough I started this 2 years ago and it was sitting in my closet half finished this whole time. With just a couple of steps to go, I finished it up this weekend to cap off the summer.

Obviously I used a whale shape because I thought it would add a bit of whimsy to my shore kitchen but you could use the same technique on virtually any simple shape. If you can doodle it, you can do it. Just cut, paint and hang!

You will need: a scrap piece of wood, a jigsaw (get the plugged in version, thank me later!), chalkboard paint, an inspiration image and a pencil (yes, you can just freehand it)

I used a scrap so i dont remember exactly - I want to say 1/4 inch but you really could use almost anything that has any stiffness to it. The thicker it is, the harder it would be to hang but something really thick (like cut from an old door) would be pretty cool too.

This post is the perfect remedy to get over my nerves about jigsaws- it looks so easy, and you've told me what type of saw to get. I've had projects in mind, but was intimidated. Oh, and I was never sure about the chalkboard paint- whether the spray paint version was any different than the brush-on. You've just solved 2 of my hang-ups in one post- thank you, thank you!

that is so awesome! I love whales, living in Boston with a boat my family and I try and go on a whale watch off the coast of Provincetown very year! They get so close you can almost feel their spray. They are such beautiful and majestical creatures and I think your chalkboard captures them very well.